Resources for current students - LDC

The LDC has a wide range of online resources and programmes to support your learning and connect you with peers. Check out Get Ahead if you are new to Aston and our LDC course in Blackboard for every level of study. You will need your Aston username and password to get access.

Get Ahead: Support for transition to Aston

Whether you’re starting university study for the first time or returning to higher education after a break, our Get Ahead programme is designed to help you hit the ground running and prepare for your studies. Get Ahead will:

• Introduce you to Aston University
• Help orientate you to learning in Higher Education and getting started with learning online
• Help you refresh and develop your academic writing, study skills and mathematics
• Support your English language and communication skills
• Develop your information literacy
• Manage your wellbeing and mental health
• Get you involved in our Aston student community and peer mentoring

The transition resource aims to help you feel a part of Aston before arrival on campus, connect with fellow students, and build on your strengths and identify areas for development.

You can also access “live” online classes and Q&A sessions, as well as independent learning resources, including quizzes and multi-media content.

Get Ahead: How to access

Engaging with Get Ahead is optional, and we hope you’ll be keen to engage and prepare for student life. Get Ahead is accessible via Blackboard (Aston’s virtual learning environment).You will you’re your Aston username and password to log in.

Search for “Get Ahead” in Blackboard to access the course.

For help and advice on how to access Blackboard, visit our Getting Started guide (Blackboard Learn - Students (aston.ac.uk).

You will have access to Get Ahead before you arrive at Aston and throughout your first year of study.

Where do I start?

It's up to you to choose which sections of Get Ahead will be most useful for you, but here's some tips to get you started:

• Start at the 'Welcome to Get Ahead' section - you'll get some advice about what's available and how you might decide what areas are priorities for you.
• If you're not sure which sections to start with, have a look through 'Get to know Aston' and 'Learning at Aston' in the first instance.
• There is a large amount of information and it is not expected that you'll look through every section in full before the start of your course. Remember you'll have ongoing access throughout the year.
• Re-visit sections as and when you need to refresh your knowledge, for example re-visiting the 'Write well' section will be helpful when you have your first assignment.

What if there's a problem?

• For queries relating to Get Ahead content, email: Learning Development Centre
• If you have technical questions email solve or email the digital services helpdesk or call +44(01) 121 204 3445.

LDC Blackboard module

While studying at Aston you have access to the LDC Blackboard module, providing a wide range of learning resources and advice to support you at all stages of study. The LDC Blackboard module includes:

• Workshop programmes and live online classes (to book email Learning Development Centre).
• Support for referencing and understanding plagiarism.
• Academic writing resources - including dissertation support.
• Mathematics help guides, videos and quizzes.
• Strategies to help you get organised and manage your time.
• Support for exams and revision.
• Study strategies and resources to help you manage and get the most from your learning.

You will need your username and password to access the course.

To get access - visit Blackboard and search for the LDC.

LDC Youtube

The Learning Development Centre have a wide range Youtube videos to support you in your learning (Maths Support LDC Aston - Youtube). Created by Aston students and LDC Maths tutors, the Youtube channel presents videos to help you refresh your maths and statistics knowledge.